FBN-PLAYER-NEWS-WIRE -

Part 1

July 23, 2012|Reuters

The Sports Xchange

07/18/2012 NFL Note - Chicago Bears Booker, Lorenzo

RB LorenzoBooker was signed by the Bears. he was drafted in the third round (71st overall) of the 2007 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins, spent the last two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings primarily as a kick returner and third running back. In two years with the Vikings the former Florida State Seminole returned 37 kickoffs for 879 yards (23.8 ypr) with a long return of 68 yards. Booker had 13 carries for 52 yards for the Vikings in 2011 along with eight receptions for 82 yards. His most productive season as a running back was as a rookie in 2007 when he gained 125 yards on 28 carries and hauled in 28 receptions for 237 yards for the Dolphins.

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NFL Note - * Free Agents Alexander, *Alvester

RB Alvester Alexander was waived by the Bears.

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NFL Note - Pittsburgh Steelers Starks, Max

OT Max Starks signed a one-year contract with the Steelers. Starks had knee surgery to repair the torn ACL in his right knee. He was injured in the AFC wild-card playoff loss at Denver but passed his physical with the Steelers this week and was re-signed.

Starks is expected to compete with rookie Mike Adams at left tackle in training camp, allowing Marcus Gilbert to remain on the right side.

Starks, 30, was limited to 19 games the past two seasons by injuries. He was released before training camp in 2011, but re-signed Oct. 5 and made 12 starts.

Starks started for the Steelers in the Super Bowl in 2005 during a stretch of five games starting all but two regular-season games.

Starks tweeted a picture of the contract and wrote, "It's real and sealed! I'll be seeing you in Latrobe!"

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NFL Note - Washington Redskins Griffin, *Robert

QB Robert Griffin III signed a four-year deal worth $21.12 million and includes a signing bonus of $13.8 million.

Griffin and Carolina Panthers' linebacker Luke Kuechly, the ninth pick in the 2012 draft, were the lone top-10 picks to sign rookie deals as of Wednesday morning. Neither of the deals includes offset language, which is used in most contracts and lowers the payment a team owes in the event that player is cut and signs with a new team.

Griffin missed the first two days of rookie training camp waiting for his contract situation to be settled. The depth chart at quarterback needs no such manipulation.

Head coach Mike Shanahan said Griffin is the Redskins' starter and he anticipates that will be the case Sept. 9 when the regular season begins against the Saints.

LeRibeus (6-2, 312), pronounced luh-REE-bus, played collegiately at SMU, where he appeared in 36 games with 28 starts. In 2011, he started all 13 games at left guard and was a member of a Mustangs offense that averaged 274.8 passing yards per game (third in Conference USA). LeRibeus blocked for an offense in 2009 that set single-season school records in total offense (5,093), passing yards (3,666) and points (380). LeRibeus, an honorable mention All-C-USA selection in 2009, was part of an offensive line that helped block for the C-USA's leading rusher Zach Line (1,224 rushing yards) in 2011.

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NFL Note - Carolina Panthers Neblett, Andre

DT Andre Neblett was suspended four games for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Neblett, an undrafted free agent in 2010, is a fourth-year veteran who won't be eligible to join the active roster until Monday, Oct. 1.

He is permitted to participate in training camp and play in preseason games before the suspension goes into effect. He started four games last season but isn't guaranteed a roster spot in 2012.

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NFL Note - New England Patriots Hightower, *Dont'a

LB Dont'a Hightower, oneof two Patriots first-round picks (25th overall), signed a four-year deal with a club option for a fifth year.

Hightower, 6-4, 270, can play inside or outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense, the same scheme he played at Alabama under coach Nick Saban.

The Patriots traded up to draft Hightower 25th in April's NFL draft. He was one of two first-round picks by the Patriots, who also selected Syracuse junior defensive end Chandler Jones.

Hightower's deal is worth at least $7.57 million and up to $7.8 million with $6.2 million in total guaranteed money.

Hightower had 234 career tackles at Alabama and was a consensus All-American as a junior last season.